Over
the past several years, a number of E&EM students and
graduates have supported the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Hydrogen Program through their employment and internships
in the Washington, D.C. area. These have included Elvin Yuzugullu,
Laura Verduzco, Kristin Deason, Eva Urbatsch, Kristy McDonnell
and Sarah Truitt.

On
August 14, 2008, some of them had the opportunity to participate
in a “Hydrogen Road Tour” sponsored by DOE. The
Hydrogen Road Tour provided an opportunity for the public
to see what the future holds for

Above: Fuel Cell Car in
Washington, DC

hydrogen
in the United States.
The Road Tour was a historic two-week, cross-country trek
of a fleet of clean, efficient hydrogen vehicles.

Nine
auto manufacturers, the U.S. Department of Energy, California
Fuel Cell Partnership, National Hydrogen Association, and
U.S. DOT sponsored the Hydrogen Road

Above:
GW Doctoral Student Kristin Deason Driving Hydrogen Car

Tour
to show that hydrogen
vehicle and fueling technologies are approaching commercial
availability, even as new research and development breakthroughs
continue.

Six
transit agencies across the country currently operate hydrogen-powered
buses, several auto dealers in southern California are leasing
hydrogen vehicles, and hundreds of individuals are driving
hydrogen-powered vehicles in demonstration programs across
the United States. Hydrogen fuel produces virtually no greenhouse
gas emissions, leaving behind only water as a byproduct.

The
tour made 31 stops in 18 states, stretching from Maine to
California. Hydrogen vehicles from BMW, Daimler, Ford, GM,
Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen made the
journey, and were joined by hydrogen transit buses along the
route. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and the Linde Corporation
provided mobile refueling stations and hydrogen fuel.